Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
The Mets (50-43) took the series against Cincinnati (49-47) with a 7-0 triumph on Wednesday afternoon at the Great American Ballpark. The one-hit shutout was led by Marcus Stroman‘s best outing of the season — which also tied for his longest — at a time when the Mets desperately needed it. Wednesday’s win was the 33rd one-hit shutout in club history.
Stroman was brilliantly efficient in tossing 90 pitches over eight shutout innings. He retired 17 of his last 18 batters and allowed just one hit, a single to Aristedes Aquino in the third, and one walk. The starter also recorded seven strikeouts. Stroman’s ERA has lowered down to 2.59 for the best mark he’s had in any 20-start stretch in his career.
Jeurys Familia entered in relief in the ninth to close off the afternoon by striking out the side.
The offense provided more than enough run support in Wednesday’s win, notching seven runs on nine hits. Mets batters walked six times compared to four strikeouts.
New York got on the board with a Jonathan Villar solo home run in the second. They tacked on four more when the trio of Brandon Nimmo, Jeff McNeil, and Pete Alonso loaded the bases with consecutive singles to set up a monster grand slam hit by Dominic Smith, making it 5-0.
In the fifth, Tomas Nido notched a one-out double, and Luis Guillorme brought him home with a two-run shot to center field for the final 7-0.
Smith ended up going 2-for-4 with that grand slam, a walk, and four RBI. Luis Guillorme was 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBI.
The Mets have Thursday off. On Friday, they’ll return to Citi Field to face the Blue Jays in a three-game series. Tylor Megill (0-0, 2.63 ERA) will get the start for the Mets. In his last outing, Megill tossed six shutout innings and added two strikeouts. The rookie has allowed just seven runs through five starts this season. Toronto has yet to determine its starter for Friday evening’s matchup. Fans can catch the action at 7:10pm ET on July 23 on SNY, or WCBS 880.
